We all dream of discovering the elixir of life, but a foolproof way to banish wrinkles and keep skin looking young is the next best thing.

Scientists have developed a 'second skin' that they claim can restore the appearance and properties of healthy, youthful skin.

The silicon film could be used to restore damaged skin, dress wounds - and prep lack-lustre skin before big events, for example.

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Scientists have developed a 'second skin' that they claim can restore the appearance and properties of healthy, youthful skin. The result of the silicon-based film, dubbed XPL, is shown on the left eye, compared to an untreated right eye, which has noticeably larger eye bags

Over time, diseases, environmental factors and ageing takes its toll on our skin, results in the loss of normal functions as well as its appearance - both of which can be distressing.

To tackle these problems, the film, called a wearable crosslinked polymer layer (XPL) mimics the properties of perfect skin.

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It is elastic, invisible, durable and moisturising, according to a team of researchers led by Robert Langer of MIT.

THE INVISIBLE 'SECOND SKIN'

The film, called a wearable crosslinked polymer layer (XPL) mimics the properties of perfect skin.

It is elastic, invisible, durable and moisturising.

The skin is made from a silicon-based material that can be made with a specific elasticity, contractibility, adhesion and strength and can be applied as a liquid before setting without the need for heat or light.

It is said to stick well to skin and creates a breathable barrier layer to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and under-eye bagging.

In a series of tests, the team showed the treatment improves skin function in patients with severely dry skin and makes skin look more youthful, limiting the appearance of eye bags.

The researchers put the prototype through its paces to find it can be stretched by 250 per cent and go back to normal again without much effort.

The skin is made from a silicon-based material that can be made with a specific elasticity, contractibility, adhesion and strength and can be applied as a liquid before setting without the need for heat or light.

It is said to stick well to skin and creates a breathable barrier layer to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and under-eye bagging.

In a series of proof-of-concept tests, the team showed the treatment improves skin function in patients with severely dry skin and makes skin look more youthful, limiting the appearance of ageing-related structural changes, such as eye bags.

The researchers put the prototype through its paces to find it can be stretched by 250 per cent and go back to normal again without much effort.

During these tests, the researchers applied XPL to the 'herniated lower eyelid fat pads' - or eye bags – of 12 volunteers.

The film resulted in an average 'two-grade grade decrease in herniation appearance in a 5-point severity scale,' - in layman's terms, the bags were noticeably reduced.

The researchers wrote in the study: 'Such a result has been previously achieved only by a lower lid blepharoplasty, an invasive surgical procedure.'

To test the film's effectiveness, the skin around participants' eyes - the left one of which was untreated and the right on treated with XPL - were gently pinched for three seconds before being released.

'Immediately after the skin was released and three seconds following release, there was a clear difference in the skin recoil between both sides,' the experts wrote.

The skin (pictured) is made from a silicon-based material that can be made with a specific elasticity, contractibility, adhesion and strength and can be applied as a liquid before setting without the need for heat or light. In tests, the prototype was stretched by 250 per cent before going back to normal again without effort

During tests, the researchers applied XPL to the 'herniated lower eyelid fat pads' - or eye bags - of 12 volunteers (pictured). The researchers also put the prototype through its paces to find it can be stretched by 250 per cent and go back to normal again without much effort

'Whereas the right lower lid (XPL applied) retracted to its original shape, the untreated lid remained tented as a result of the remaining plastic strain from the imposed stress'.

The film also performed well in an experiment testing its effectiveness as a 'second skin barrier' against signs of dehydration.

It was applied to the legs of 22 volunteers with moderately to severely dry skin, recorded on a 9-point dryness scale.

XPL's performance was then measured against petrolatum, which is said to be the most effective according to other studies, and a 'high end' moisturiser.

To test the film's effectiveness, the skin around participants' eyes - the left one of which was untreated and the right on treated with XPL - were gently pinched for three seconds before being released. The stages of treatment is pictured

The film works by mimicking the properties of perfect skin and is elastic, invisible, durable and moisturising. These graphs show the reduction of eye bags and wrinkles when using the treatment over time a 4-hour period

Impressively, 24 hours after the test was conducted, the new film reduced dryness by 23 per cent.

'The results confirmed the XPL as a 'second skin' barrier that protects the skin from excessive moisture loss to the environment, the researchers wrote.

They believe the 'second skin' technology may help restore damaged skin lacking its barrier function so it could be used for wound dressings, for example while allowing the skin to look and behave naturally.

Two of the researchers involved in the study, published in the journal Nature Materials, are from Living Proof, which makes hair and beauty products, offering hope it could be rolled out as a beauty treatment in the future.

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'Miracle second skin' makes you look 20 years younger by banishing bags